Lawyers representing Dow Chemical and two other companies that manufacture organophosphate pesticides have sent letters to the heads of the EPA, the Department of Commerce, and the Fish and Wildlife service asking them to “set aside” the results of “fundamentally flawed” federal studies that prove that these chemicals are harmful to nearly 1,800 critically threatened or endangered species.

Environmental advocates said Wednesday that the criticism of the studies, which examined chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion over the past four years, was unfounded, as the methods used were developed for the National Academy of Scientists.

These letters were sent in reaction to an announcement from Scott Pruitt, who said last month that he would reverse an effort that surfaced during the Obama administration to bar the use of chlorpyrifos, despite a 2015 ban proposal made after findings linking chlorpyrifos exposure to neurological harm.

“We have had no meetings with Dow on this topic and we are reviewing petitions as they come in, giving careful consideration to sound science and good policymaking,” J.P. Freire, EPA’s associate administrator for public affairs, told the Associated Press. “The administrator is committed to listening to stakeholders affected by EPA’s regulations, while also reviewing past decisions.”

Dow Chemical sells approximately five million pounds of chlorpyrifos in the United States each year and has been selling the chemical since the 1960s, according to the Associated Press. Organophosphorus gas was originally developed as a chemical weapon by Nazi Germany, but today, it is among the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the United States.

]]>Endangered Species Get a Pesticide Push Toward Extinctionhttp://www.organicauthority.com/endangered-species-get-pesticide-push-toward-extinction
Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:00:03 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=45372The thought of an America without grizzly bears, foxes, wolves, spotted owls, or sparrows, is unfathomable. Yet they’re some of the more than 1,700 most endangered species in the nation. And if their future wasn’t uncertain enough, two common pesticides may all but ensure their disappearance, says a new report by the EPA. According to […]

]]>The thought of an America without grizzly bears, foxes, wolves, spotted owls, or sparrows, is unfathomable. Yet they’re some of the more than 1,700 most endangered species in the nation. And if their future wasn’t uncertain enough, two common pesticides may all but ensure their disappearance, says a new report by the EPA.

According to the EPA analysis, the pesticides malathion and chlorpyrifos may make survival difficult for 97 percent of endangered species in the U.S., a list that includes mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, insects, and plants.

Chlorpyrifos is commonly used in extermination of pests such as mosquitos and termites; malathion is frequently applied to fruits and vegetables at risk of certain pests. It’s also used in treating pets with ticks.

“The risk posed by malathion and chlorpyrifos is so widespread across the U.S. that the few species considered not at risk are mainly those already classified as extinct,” reports the Guardian. And to make matters even more confounding, last year, the World Health Organization concluded that malathion and diazinon, another pesticide threatening about 79 percent of endangered species, are both probable human carcinogens.

“For the first time in history, we finally have data showing just how catastrophically bad these pesticides are for endangered species,” Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity, told the Guardian.

“These dangerous pesticides have been used without proper analysis for decades, and now’s the time to take this new information and create commonsense measures to protect plants, animals and people from these chemicals.”

But all hope is not lost. The EPA has taken steps to review and restrict some pesticides linked to declining bee populations, such as the neonicotinoid class of pesticides already restricted in the EU because of the threat to bees.

Companies are taking steps to reduce their impact on the planet as well. Just this week, Dannon announced a comprehensive sustainability pledge, which includes steps to protect soil and ecosystems, as well as a move away from herbicide-dependent GMO crops, like corn and soy.

“These evaluations are a huge step forward for the EPA,” says Burd. “Now that we know the magnitude of danger these pesticides pose, it’s clear we need to take action.”

]]>EPA Proposes Ban on Common Pesticide Used on Fruits and Vegetableshttp://www.organicauthority.com/epa-proposes-ban-on-common-pesticide-used-on-fruits-and-vegetables/
Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:36:19 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=38959The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a ban on the agricultural use of chlorpyrifos, a common pesticide used on fruits and vegetables, almonds, and other crops. The agency plans to finalize its rule by the end of 2016. The chemical has been banned from consumer products and household use for the past 15 years, and […]

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a ban on the agricultural use of chlorpyrifos, a common pesticide used on fruits and vegetables, almonds, and other crops. The agency plans to finalize its rule by the end of 2016.

The chemical has been banned from consumer products and household use for the past 15 years, and in 2006, the EPA limited the number of crops on which it can be applied. Environmentalists have since petitioned the agency to ban all uses of the chemical.

“We’ve known for years that chlorpyrifos is dangerous and that’s why we sued EPA,” Veena Singla, a health program scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the Los Angeles Times. “The agency’s announcement is a huge step in the right direction, but we think there’s enough evidence to ban all its uses now.”

Since the 2000 ban, nearly 3,000 studies have been published on the health hazards of chlorpyrifos exposure. The latest study, published by Elsevier B.V. in September, found that children exposed to chlorpyrifos in the womb suffered from tremors in both arms that affected their ability to draw, and could later affect their ability to write.

Chlorpyrifos affects the nervous system of people, pets, and other animals the same way it affects the targeted pests, according to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). The chemical binds to enzymes that control the messages that travel between nerve cells, and if the body can’t keep up with replacing the depleted enzymes, nerves and muscles are unable to function properly.

The NPIC maintains that children may be more sensitive to pesticides than adults, and nerve damage in children has been observed to be more severe in studies thus far.

More than 5 million pounds of the chemical is used in the U.S. every year.

]]>Full Ban on Chlorpyrifos Pesticide Subject of Lawsuit Against the EPAhttp://www.organicauthority.com/full-ban-on-chlorpyrifos-pesticide-subject-of-lawsuit-against-the-epa/
Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:00:25 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=31547The Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) along with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over chlorpyrifos, what the groups claim is a toxic pesticide that can disrupt development in fetuses and small children. Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide widely used in agriculture—about 10 million pounds worth annually are […]

The Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) along with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over chlorpyrifos, what the groups claim is a toxic pesticide that can disrupt development in fetuses and small children.

Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide widely used in agriculture—about 10 million pounds worth annually are applied to food crops. It’s commonly applied to corn, grapes, oranges and almonds, as well as used on golf courses and in other public areas, with one-fifth of its total application occurring in California. It was also widely used in household applications as well, but in 2000 the agency banned it from household products with the exceptions of ant and roach baits.

PANNA and NRDC filed a petition with the EPA back in 2007 to ban chlorpyrifos from all uses. The groups hope the lawsuit will result in a total ban of the pesticide. The groups also want the EPA to release its updated human health risk assessment on chlorpyrifos and make it available for public comment in December, “along with either a proposed revocation rule or a proposed denial of the petition,” explains Food Safety News. In addition to the risks to fetuses and children, the groups say chlorpyrifos is a toxic pesticide that can cause nausea, dizziness and confusion. At very high exposures, it has also been connected with respiratory paralysis and death.

“EPA’s failure to make a final decision on the 2007 Petition leaves children at risk of harm from chlorpyrifos exposure and leaves PANNA without legal remedies to challenge EPA’s ongoing failure to take necessary steps to protect children,” the groups wrote in the complaint filed earlier this month.

But the California Farm Bureau Federation has opposed a ban, and according to SF Gate, the bureau stated that “EPA’s own studies have shown the pesticide can be applied safely.”

]]>11 Chemicals Creating ‘Global, Silent Pandemic’ of Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia, Study Findshttp://www.organicauthority.com/11-chemicals-creating-global-silent-pandemic-of-autism-adhd-and-dyslexia-study-finds/
Mon, 17 Feb 2014 08:00:09 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=27689Children today may be at a greater risk of developing cognitive and behavioral issues including autism, ADHD and dyslexia, due to exposure to “new” chemicals, reveals an unsettling new study. The study, published in The Lancet Neurology, finds a list of common chemicals are likely contributing to what the researchers are calling the “global, silent […]

Children today may be at a greater risk of developing cognitive and behavioral issues including autism, ADHD and dyslexia, due to exposure to “new” chemicals, reveals an unsettling new study.

The study, published in The Lancet Neurology, finds a list of common chemicals are likely contributing to what the researchers are calling the “global, silent pandemic of neurodevelopmental toxicity” in children, reports Forbes.

Five neurotoxins were pinpointed in 2006 by the researchers as contributing to cognitive deficits and attention problems (lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, and toluene). The team has now added six more chemicals to the list: manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers. “The greatest concern is the large numbers of children who are affected by toxic damage to brain development in the absence of a formal diagnosis,” study author Philippe Grandjean, of the Harvard School of Public Health told Forbes. “They suffer reduced attention span, delayed development, and poor school performance. Industrial chemicals are now emerging as likely causes.”

The team says that while genes do play a part in neurobehavioral problems like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, genetics only account for about 30 to 40 percent of the cases; therefore, environment—and specifically chemicals in the environment—must be considered in the majority of the issues.

“The developing human brain is incredibly vulnerable to chemical exposures, both in utero and in early childhood, and these changes can be lifelong,” notes Forbes. “During these sensitive life stages,” say the authors, “chemicals can cause permanent brain injury at low levels of exposure that would have little or no adverse effect in an adult.”

Calling it a “pandemic” level of exposure, the study authors are urging for stricter mandatory testing for chemicals before approved for use. “One common complaint has been that when one compound does finally become banned, another equally toxic and often untested chemical may take its place,” reports Forbes. “More rigorous testing, though complicated to carry out, might address this major issue.”

The 11 chemicals and their effects (via Forbes):

Lead–This is one of the most extensively researched compounds in terms of neurodevelopment, and has been consistently linked to serious deficits, including low IQ. Its effects seem to be permanent, leading to the conclusion that there is no safe level of exposure.

Methylmercury–Affecting the neurological development of the fetus,exposure often comes from maternal intake of fish containing high levels of mercury, according to the World Health Organization and the EPA.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) – This family of chemicals has routinely been associated with reduced cognitive function in infancy and childhood. It is often present in foods, particularly fish, and can be passed along in breast milk.

Arsenic – When absorbed through drinking water, this chemical has been linked to reduced cognitive function in schoolchildren. Follow-up studies from the Morinaga milk poisoning incident have linked it to neurological disease in adulthood.

Toluene – Used as a solvent, maternal exposure has been linked to brain development problems and attention deficit in the child, according to the EPA and OSHA.

Manganese – In the drinking water in Bangladesh, for example, this chemical has been linked to lower scores in math, diminished intellectual function, and ADHD.

Fluoride – Higher levels of this chemical has been connected with a 7-point decrease in IQ in children.

Chlorpyrifos and DDT (pesticides) – Linked to structural abnormalities of the brain and neurodevelopmental problems that persist up to age 7. These pesticides are banned in many parts of the world (U.S. included), but still used in many lower-income countries. They have recently been linked to Alzheimer’s disease as well.

Tetrachloroethylene (AKAperchlorethylene)– These solvents have been linked to hyperactivity and aggressive behavior, and increased risk of psychiatric diagnosis. Mothers in certain professional roles, like nurse, chemist, cleaner, hairdresser, and beautician had higher levels of exposure.

The polybrominateddiphenyl ethers – These flame retardants are banned now, but believed to be neurotoxins. Prenatal exposure has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in the child.

And the researchers found two more “compounds of concern”: BPA (bisphenol A), which is a common plastic additive in canned goods, thermal register receipts and hard plastics; and phthalates, which are commonly found in personal care products including deodorants and nail polish.

]]>EPA Restricts Use of Potato Fungicide, Dismisses Petition for All-Out Banhttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/epa-restricts-use-of-potato-fungicide-dismisses-petition-for-all-out-ban/
Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:23:38 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=11133Last week, the EPA announced new regulations on use of the fungicide, chlorpyrifos, a known toxin commonly used on potato crops. The new ruling will lower the allowable applications and the restrictions will be on product labels later this year, the agency reports in a statement released on the EPA website. The new restrictions come in […]

Last week, the EPA announced new regulations on use of the fungicide, chlorpyrifos, a known toxin commonly used on potato crops. The new ruling will lower the allowable applications and the restrictions will be on product labels later this year, the agency reports in a statement released on the EPA website.

The new restrictions come in part as a result of a petition filed by the Pesticide Action Network and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The petition asked the EPA to “revoke all tolerances and cancel all registrations of chlorpyrifos.” The EPA says that while none of the six claims warrants revoking the product fully, it has set new limits, which the agency says will decrease the health risks associated with chlorpyrifos.

Drifting pesticides including chlorpyrifos are creating serious health problems throughout central Minnesota, reports The Huffington Post. Continual low-dose exposure and random heavy doses of serious toxins are being detected in farming communities across the region.

According to the article:

From 2006 to 2009, in an effort to detect pesticides in the air they breathed, residents of central Minnesota set up air monitors on everything from back patios to school rooftops. One or more pesticides were found in 64 percent of 340 samples taken by the so-called drift catchers, according to results published by the nonprofit Pesticide Action Network in May. The most commonly detected chemical was a potato fungicide, chlorothalonil, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies as a ‘probable’ carcinogen and ‘highly toxic’ if inhaled.

Rates of allergy and asthma are on the rise throughout the potato-growing region, and many of the pesticides are known carcinogens.

]]>Invisible Monsters: 5 of The Most Common Pesticides & Their Impact on Your Healthhttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/invisible-monsters-5-of-the-most-common-pesticides-a-their-impact-on-your-health.html
Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:56:54 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/invisible-monsters-5-of-the-most-common-pesticides-a-their-impact-on-your-health/“Eat Organic!” It’s the mantra of those seeking alternatives to the commercially-grown, genetically-modified and pesticide-sprayed crops dominating the U.S. food supply. Not only is it almost impossible to completely avoid eating non-organic foods, but pesticides and herbicides are so widely used that they’re now found in the air and water—and in virtually every human on […]

“Eat Organic!” It’s the mantra of those seeking alternatives to the commercially-grown, genetically-modified and pesticide-sprayed crops dominating the U.S. food supply. Not only is it almost impossible to completely avoid eating non-organic foods, but pesticides and herbicides are so widely used that they’re now found in the air and water—and in virtually every human on earth. And although it seems like avoiding them may be impossible, reducing our exposure reduces our risk of some serious health problems.

According to the Pesticide Action Network of North America, there is no national data on pesticide use—further compounding the misinformation about the safety and ubiquity of these toxic chemicals. California, however, is one of the few states collecting pesticide data, some of which shows that between 1991 and 2000, nearly 2 billion pounds of chemicals were used just in the state of California; and an estimated 1.2 billion pounds are used across the U.S. each year. Even without national data, it’s safe to say the following are five of the most widely used chemical pesticides and herbicides permeating America:

1. Glyphosate: Better known as Monsanto’s Roundup, it is used on their companion genetically-modified soy, corn, canola and cotton as well as in home gardens and parks. Recent studies in the Mississippi Basin discovered glyphosate residue in ground water exceeding permissible levels for drinking water, in rain water and in air samples. Glyphosate has been linked to birth defects, neurological disorders, fertility issues and cancer.

2. Atrazine: More than 75 million pounds of this weed killer are used in the U.S.ever year—most commonly on corn in the Midwest. An EPA study found atrazine in 100 percent of 26 river sites examined. An endocrine disruptor, atrazine exposure has been linked to increased risk of birth defects, infertility and possibly cancer.

3. Chlorpyrifos:Created by the Dow Chemical Company in the 1960s, chlorpyrifos was widely used in home and garden settings and can now be found applied to cotton, almonds, oranges, apples and corn crops. Symptoms of low-dose exposure can include headaches, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and blurred vision. More serious conditions include respiratory paralysis, increased risk of children born with lower IQs and potential for ADHD.

4. Metolachlor: Classified as a Category C herbicide, metolachlor is recognized by the EPA as cancer causing. It is used on corn, soy and sorghum as well as lawns and trees. Other side effects include difficulty breathing, nausea, convulsions and jaundice.

5. Metam sodium: This widely used fumigant and pesticide is commonly applied to potatoes in concentrations as high as 150 to 300 pounds per acre. Side effects include nausea, difficulty breathing, vomiting, damage to thyroid, hormone disruption and birth defects.